National Leader

Our National Women Ministries is looking for a new Executive Minister.  If you are interested or know someone who might be see the letter below:

Dear Covenant Leader,

The Evangelical Covenant church is conducting a search for a new Executive Minister for Women Ministries. A nominee will be placed on the ballot at the annual meeting in June. We are writing to ask for your assistance in identifying quality candidates.

After twelve years of service as Executive Minister of Women Ministries, Ruth Hill will be retiring this year. We truly thank God for her leadership and service. A reception in Ruth's honor was held during the Women Ministries Triennial XIII this past July. She will also be recognized and honored at this year's annual meeting.

Women Ministries provides leadership for ministries to and through women of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Our vision is to advance God's kingdom through women. Our mission is to equip women for growth and service. Our process for accomplishing this work is by connecting women in transformational relationships that unite them in Christ to impact our world. Holding to the confession of The Evangelical Covenant Church, Women Ministries of the ECC is committed to participate in the ministries of the ECC in areas of common concern and responsibility.

Interested parties should apply with a cover letter and resume by February 23, 2011 to Regina Williams

email address: williams.regina@comcast.net

or mailing address: 8507 South Justine Street

Chicago, IL 60620.

This position is also posted on the Covenant website, www.covchurch.org/jobs/.

We value your prayers as we go through the search process and thank you for your assistance in spreading the word about this important opportunity and the invaluable resource that Women Ministries is, not just to women, but to all members and institutions of the Covenant.

Yours in Christ,

Regina Williams                                                                      Gary Walter

Chair, Women Ministries Search Committee                         President, Evangelical Covenant Church

Special Interest Missionaries

Our Covenant Midwest Conference is assigned Special Interest Missionaries.  Our missionaries from 2011 to 2013 will be Cindy Hoover in Mexico and Barbara Johnson in the Congo/Asia.  We look forward to blessing these women in their ministries through prayer, encouragement and financial support. More information to come!

Upcoming Opportunity - Missions Breakfast

Mission Women’s Breakfast Featuring Margie Swenson

Saturday February 5th 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 am.

Applewood Community Church

Our featured speaker is Reverend Margie Swenson, C0-Director of Missionary Personnel for Covenant World Mission, based in Chicago. Margie is a dynamic speaker with a wealth of experience serving in the field as a missionary. She has wonderful stories to share and to inspire you in your walk with the Lord whether serving locally or in a faraway place!

The breakfast is also a unique opportunity to meet new Christian sisters – our sisters at Applewood Community Church in Golden. They are working hard to serve us a delicious breakfast and to decorate their Worship Center for our enjoyment. There’ll be amusing ice-breakers games!

We have gift certificates to give away as door prizes – just for fun! Our very own Debbie Hardy will lead us in music.

Please sign the bulletin tear-off or stop by our registration table in the Family Life Center! There is no charge to attend. Please bring family members and friends. If you have any questions, contact Ceil Higgins at 303-359-3682.

Daniel Fast - Day 21

Today you have finished this race! As you push through to this evening savor every moment and reflect back on:

1) How have you changed in 3 weeks?

2) How has your life changed in 3 weeks?

3) If you had to run again – would you train differently? If so what would you change?

4) Probably the most important question – How has your knowledge of God changed?

I hope you know that I was looking for more in my life: to see more of God, to hear his voice more clearly, and to gain a deeper understanding of my soul.

I was listening to some CD’s during my fast on the healing of the soul. Jean Holt shared this insight:

“Fasting is where you come to understand the nature of your dependency.”

God unearthed some darkened secrets in my soul that needed cleansing. But he also gave to me a new understanding of how deeply and desperately I need Christ.

I need Christ in every breath,

in every thought,

in every image of my mind.

I need Christ for direction and for my peace.

I need Christ when I rise and when I sleep.

I need him in my plans and in my inspiration.

I need him in my sorrow and times of desolation.

I need him to breathe a new song of joy.

I NEED CHRIST!

Consider this: end today with a time of personal communion.

Take in the bread and savor the wine. Truly, his blood was shed and his body was broken just for you. Just for you… may you see how great and far and wide is your need for him. So that He may fill you with the greatness, the depth and the width of his love!

Keep running the race Women after God’s own heart, Keep running!

Daniel Fast - Day 20

The Daniel Fast

Day 20

“Come on in… welcome to my home. Please sit here; it is the most comfortable chair in the house. Would you like a cookie? Latte? I’ll whip it right up! Please don’t worry about intruding, my home is your home, you are truly welcome at any time, mess or no mess my door is always open!”

Mark and I have a pretty open door policy. We have a few friends that know to just come on in and that we will look at them weird if they do knock or ring the doorbell.

I have to tell you though; the girlfriends that come in without knocking are also the ones who know me best. They see me in my jammies at 10 a.m., they hear me torn apart on the phone because of some recent crisis in my life, and they lovingly step over my laundry piles. And I let them come in anyway. Why? Because, they love me. They might be concerned if I am in my jammies at 3 p.m., they might be worried if I call every day for a week in tears with the same ole crisis. But mostly they just know that I am getting through life each day the best way I know how, with Christ and family I have found in Christ.

Have you ever thought that Jesus would like that same invitation? “Hey Jesus, come on in, sit a while and let’s talk, really talk! Can I get you anything?”

As we learned at Triennial XIII Jesus does want to come in and just be, just be at home in my heart and with my soul. But he also wants to help me spring clean. He wants the freedom and the trust to pick up the rug and help sweep out the dust. He wants to help you move the fridge and take out the dead mouse, Yuck!!! He wants to be at home, as if it was HIS home!

In John 15:4-10 in The Message bible says it this way:

"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.

I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire.

But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.”

I hope that each of you in the last 20 days has moved a little closer to making yourself at home in Jesus and his love. ABIDE women of God. Come on in, make yourself at home!

Daniel Fast - Day 19

The Daniel Fast

Day 19

Have you been treasure hunting or grave digging during your fast? I have had a bit of both. One day a treasure the next a grave. And sometimes the treasure was in putting to death things that have long haunted me.

We had some friends over on Saturday night and God had reminded me of how I had grossly sinned while out on a double date with them. My sin not only embarrassed me (when looking back at my behavior) but also put them in the place of ‘parenting’ me; an awful role to impose on a friend or a husband. So when they came over, I confessed my sin to them. Of course in their graciousness they said they couldn’t even remember the event and said it wasn’t necessary to apologize to them. Ah, but what they didn’t know is that I needed to apologize for me. Leanne Payne in her teaching series talks about how we have lost the need of confessing our sins to another. I have to say that as an Evangelical I had no understanding of the confessional that is presented in the liturgical churches such as Catholic, Episcopal and Anglican. She explains that when a particular sin gets a hold of your soul, and no matter how many times you might have confessed the sin it doesn’t let go is when you need to confess to another. It is not necessarily for accountability as much as it is for your need to hear someone else proclaim to you the forgiveness of Christ graciously given to you. The proclamation of another over you can be the one thing that sets you free.

This memory had stuck with me, shame in tow, guilt alongside until I confessed it for what it was – SIN!

I dug the grave and put that sin to death. It no longer has the power to shame or reprove me. And in digging that grave I found a treasure in the confession of sin to another.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16

Daniel Fast - Day 18

The Daniel Fast

Day 18

A picture that joyfully replays in my mind is of Lydia around 2 years old. We are on a family hike and the wind kicks up. She giggles and turns to face the wind. With eyes closed, arms wide open, and curly hair askew she giggles at the wind on her face and through her hair. And sometimes I wonder if she felt God’s face nuzzling hers as the wind whipped by. She has always loved the wind. Standing unafraid of what the wind would bring, she faced its force trusting what may come. Her arms spread wide and unguarded and joy coursing through her soul.

I wish I faced the winds with not just peace but joy! I wish I trusted what the Holy Spirit brought to me, joy coming from unquestioning faith. Well, I am building my life on the Rock. So I will learn to stand on that rock, eyes closed in faith, joy in my countenance and abandoned to the will of my Father.

Join me!

Daniel Fast - Day 17

The Daniel Fast

Day 17

Do you ever feel like you have pinned yourself to a dissection table and started slicing? Sometimes we spend a lot of time ‘outside’ of ourselves looking in and finding what is wrong. In fact some teaching encourages such unhealthy examination of oneself. I have heard such an interpretation of John the Baptist when he said “He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30.)” I can say confidently that introspection was not what John the Baptist was referring to.

But no matter how hard we try we cannot be rid of ourselves. If the whole of who God made us to be is wrong and should be cut away, why then would we also be taught that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit?

You see, we must come to find that God crafted us with His perfect image in mind. He did not add a ‘pinch of sin’ just to keep the curse going (we did that). So somewhere in you is the idea of you in the complete and perfect image of Christ! The hard part is in understanding that the creation can never be fully understood apart from the Creator. Therefore, the more we know of God the clearer we become in our own eyes.

As far as that ‘pinch of sin’ – you must trust that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you all things that you should be mindful of and not torment your own soul by continuing in the disease of introspection.

And this, my friends, is the fundamental reason that we must learn to abide in Christ! Grow your knowledge of God so that he may increase and we may decrease!

Daniel Fast - Day 16

The Daniel Fast

Day 16

Bach and Handel are both composers from the Baroque period and each stood out in numerous ways. But one commonality between the two was how they signed the end of their cantatas and compositions. S.D.G. (see picture). These initials represent the Latin statement, Soli Deo Gloria, To God alone be the Glory.

It is said that the first performance in London of the Messiah was attended by King George II. When the Hallelujah Chorus began, he rose to his feet, and so did those with him (following the King’s lead). Thus our tradition of standing for the Hallelujah chorus even today! There are many speculations on why King George rose to his feet. But I must believe this explanation found on Wikipedia:

“As was and is the custom, one stands in the presence of royalty as a sign of respect. The Hallelujah chorus clearly places Christ as the King of Kings. In standing, King George II accepts that he too is subject to the Lord of Lords.”

In this way – even King George II finished the Messiah with S.D.G. shown in his actions. We too must learn that we bow low in humility and thankfulness before our King, but to stand in His presence shows that we are moving the glory from our accomplishments - to the composer of our lives.

May you find every way to say –Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone Be the Glory!

Daniel Fast - Day 15

The Daniel Fast

Day 15

In “You Were Born For This” by Bruce Wilkinson he makes a profound statement –

“Good people, doing good works in the world is not enough to fully accomplish what God wants done. God seeks to reveal Himself in majesty and truth in our generation – and to do so through us. That’s why a miracle just delivered and received is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to give Him the glory he deserves.”

In so many words I think what Bruce is saying is this; if you want to know that the good you are doing is the good that God predetermined for you to do…. You only have to ask one question. Does the act of good shift the praise and glory from me, the one who delivered the good, to God, the one who DID the good?

This is a vitally important question for us as women, the volunteers of the churches, schools, and sports organizations. We can drive ourselves into the ground ‘doing good.’ Maybe a step back to evaluate what we are so busy with can bring us freedom. Is the good that I am doing bringing glory to me or God?

These are tough words. But what better time to place your busy-ness before God than in the middle of your fast.

Daniel Fast - Day 14

The Daniel Fast

Day 14

Life sure gets in the way of faith sometimes!   OK, so what I am really saying is that sometimes you just feel assaulted.  The walls of your mind cave in with worry, anxiety, or fear.  We all have times when we just can’t rein in our minds.  As the thoughts keep swirling through, cycling round and round our souls can plunge into despair.  You may even ask: “Where is the hope?” 

Your hope is in Christ and in Him crucified.  Don’t ask me how it is possible but the cross is able to bear the sins you have done, the sins you have witnessed, and the sins done to you.  Nothing else is as thorough as the Cross! 

So many times we think we can only give what is perfect, beautiful and right to our Lord.  We forget that he simply asks us for our life.

King David was a master of this art.  The entire book of Psalms are about a heart (a life) poured out to him – both the glorious and the unthinkable.  And all this put to music! 

So, in prayer today, no matter where you are with your life:

                “Let my (your) Life Song Sing to You (Him).” by Casting Crowns

Daniel Fast - Day 13

The Daniel Fast

Day 13 - Friday

A song keeps ringing in my ears today. “There can be Miracles” was produced for the Disney production of “The Prince of Egypt.” It was the story of Moses; his saving, his calling, his falling, his isolation, his anointing, and his leading. Miracles – how do you define them? I say that something happens that no man could accomplish nor explain.

My daily calendar on my desk reads today:

“What kind of God do you have today? Is He the God of the impossible?”

Yes – Today I have a God of the impossible. I do believe in miracles! I love miracle stories; the old ones like Moses and the Israelites or the new ones such as the story of our Spring Retreat Speaker, Ginger Millermon. But the ones that transform me from knowing about God to knowing of God are the miracles that happen to me. I must say that I do not generally meet my miracles with infallible, unshakable faith. I am usually more like the father in Mark 9:24.

“And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

I am so grateful that God does not limit his might to the magnitude of my faith. Rather he uses the opportunity of a mustard seed of faith to plant his oaks of righteousness.

Today – Dare to ask for and believe in a miracle. Somewhere you are facing something that seems insurmountable, unexplainable or even unforgiveable. Ask for it anyway and add to the end of your prayer – “I believe Lord – Help thou mine unbelief.”

Daniel Fast - Day 12

The Daniel Fast

Day 12

TEMPTATION!!!Yikes – it’s been hard…..

I wish I could tell you that Satan has tempted me to turn stones into bread or to be the ruler of this world but, alas, I can only say that my biggest temptation has been a……… HOT DOG!!!! How utterly pathetic.

But, it is true. I made a dish for my family that I could also eat and then Mark grilled some hot dogs for the kids. Hebrew National hot dogs that is. I know some of you are wretching as you read, for hot dogs are the furthest thing from temptation for you. But, I am tempted when I am drawn away by my own lusts (James 1:14.) Those hot dogs made my mouth water. And when we sat down for dinner I looked at my husband and said, “You are gonna have to move those to the other end of the table. I don’t want them within arm’s length or I will cave!”

I suddenly wished I had that strong of a reaction to all of my temptations. Some I still ‘flirt’ with and set myself up to fail. So today I asked God that He would help me become more keenly aware of the temptations I should be fleeing from instead of making a false stand.

Lord – impart to us your discerning Spirit that would teach us how to walk more closely to you. May we not compare our weak points with those of other’s. Or worse, condemn ourselves for our weakness when looking at another’s strength. Our weakness draws us closer to you. May we celebrate in our frailty so that we may see Your Strength!

Daniel Fast - Day 11

The Daniel Fast

Day 11

My children gave me a daily calendar for Christmas and today this is what it said:

“God is at work within us who are His children. Our part is to cooperate with what he is doing, not to get in His way, to let Him achieve in our lives what He wants to, and not to insist on doing things our way.”

It sounds so simple and yet is so difficult.

Did you hear that first statement? God IS at work within us! That alone is an encouragement. So, to those who do not ‘feel’ the Lord near you, who do not ‘sense’ His presence…. He IS in you, He IS at work in you, He IS beside you and behind you and before you. This is not my opinion – It is God’s fact.

If you do nothing else today; place your hand over your heart and simply look up and say – “Thank you Lord Jesus that you are with me AND within me” and He will guide you into all truth.

Daniel Fast - Day 10

The Daniel Fast

Day 10

Congratulations! You have made it to the half-way point. That is, at noon we are halfway there!

I hope that you have had rich times with God, answers to prayer, and deeper insight into yourself in relation to God. I certainly have.

It is a bit early for Spring but I feel as though Spring Cleaning has been going on in my soul. God has uncovered some deep sins, deep longings, and an even deeper need for Him. The work of keeping me before God has been hard. You see, when God starts uncovering what I would rather have hidden it takes a great deal of self-control to stay quietly before him. I don’t like me when I sin, the aspect of me that harbors dependence on something or someone other than Christ. I get uncomfortable, even fidgety.

But, here is the secret. If I took myself out of God’s presence during times of correction than I would walk away with the sin now present in my conscious mind. It would make it even harder to come before him the next time I dare face him. It would bring guilt and anger with it. God doesn’t want me to walk away in that condition.

Instead God whispers to me; “Stay until it is finished”

I must stay before him until I see and believe that the sin that shames me is also taken into him on the cross, that His blood covers it and removes it from my soul. Then he gently reaches down to my bowed soul and lifts me up! He lets me know of His eternal grace that is sufficient for all that is a part of me.

Praise the Lord – I am His and He is mine!

Today – I lift up the women that have committed together on this journey. Lord I praise you for their faithfulness and pray for added encouragement and blessing for those that are wrestling their way through this time. If any have struggled and failed – may you remind them Lord that you do not intend them to stay down. May they see you with the eyes of their hearts so that you may lift them up!

Daniel Fast - Day 9

The Daniel Fast

Day 9

Idols are a foreign concept to our western world. We do not often see actual carvings set up to be worshipped. Yet, over and over again, in both the Old and New Testament we are called to turn from our idols to God.

A few years back I was completely blind to an idol that I had set up in my life. Given that I came from such a tumultuous home that had both faith and abuse intermixed I clung to my ‘in-law’ family. I did everything in my power to be the perfect daughter/sister-in-law. I so desperately wanted a ‘normal’ family that I would do anything to obtain it. But that ‘anything’ came out in the appearance of manipulation and control. This false happiness came crashing down and it took me with it. I struggled with depression for a few years until God had me in a place to gently reveal to me the truth.

I had set the ‘In-law’ love, admiration, and approval ahead of the desire to be loved by God. In grief and repentance I asked God to tear it down and set me right.

Now 6 years after my idol came crashing down I can say that I am not only free but whole. God not only has given me his love but has healed my marriage along the way. I share a trust with my husband that was not there before.

On this 21 day journey, I challenge you to ask God to reveal to you any idols that you have set up before Him. Sit quietly before him and listen. Then name your idol and repent and be confident in the blood of Jesus that washes and cleanses you.

Go deeper with God!

Daniel Fast - Day 8

The Daniel Fast

Day 8

Setting Love in order. Have you ever asked that God set Love within you and the love that comes from you, in His order? Too many times I have found that I try to carry burdens that are not mine. I hang on to wounds that were not done to me. I work effusively to hear words of approval.

That is love askew. As Jean Holt lectured on, it is love out of need not love out of gift. And it leaves me tired.

It is not wrong to care for others concerns. It is not wrong to show deference to others opinions. But when I bend myself towards another person; taking on their pain, wallowing in their misery, doing more than I am called to do in order to feel loved, then I exhaust myself by pleasing the creation instead of the Creator.

I must first Be loved by the Creator, then I must love others as a gift. This is setting love in order.

If you feel that some of this rings true for you I would encourage you to buy the book “Setting Love in Order” by Leanne Payne.

“Lord I do pray that we all learn to love rightly. That we love facing you so that we give to you and receive the power of your presence to rightly love those around us! May your Holy Spirit be the light that reveals to each of us how our love is ordered.”

Today starts our churches week long continual prayer service. If you have not joined the 24/7 prayer week by signing up for an hour I would strongly encourage you to be a part. Our church is in great need of the strength of the prayers coming from our body of believers. We are voting for new leadership next week. We desire unity but diversity. We are seeking ways to introduce new life yet not lose the strength of our history! Join our corporate body in this time of your fast and pray!

Daniel Fast - Day 7

The Daniel Fast

Day 7

So, I have a confession.

Last night I had to take Lydia to urgent care for a possible infection. Of course we were there longer than expected. So when we left, needing to run through Walgreens to fill a prescription, Lydia reminded me of how hungry she was. I took her to the McDonalds drive through. The menu was full of my carnal desires! LOL! But, I restrained myself. I ordered a side salad with no cheese and a Vinegar and Oil dressing. I got my salad and poured on the dressing. When I took the first bite I felt terrible. The dressing had parmesan cheese in it. I blew my fast.

God whispered encouragement to me as I quickly confessed:

“God, I am so sorry, I should have read the label, forgive me for blowing the fast. Help me to quickly get back on my fast and not entertain the idea of how good it tasted!”

His reply: “Ah, Cheryl, remember that I look at the heart! Your heart had no intention to break your fast. I forgive you and still receive your sacrifice”

Whatever the struggle may be for you; food, time, or both – you can know that God stands ready to forgive and lead you on to success! Don’t let an ‘oops!’ become a ‘forget it!’

Daniel Fast - Day 6

The Daniel Fast

Day 6

Here comes the weekend! Are you ready? You know, it will be a bit tougher. Schedules change, expectation of family changes. Make a plan on how you will maintain your success when everyone else wants something different.

For me, it’s the kids. They want snacks, or maybe pop and pizza for dinner. They want my favorite foods. Now, do I make them suffer with me or do I suffer for them? A Challenging statement. Suffering with me would be to not give them pizza because I have determined I don’t have the ability to say ‘no’ to myself. Suffering for them is to allow them to enjoy their pizza while I fix a vegetarian wrap for dinner.

I chose to suffer for them. In a way it brought me back to how much Jesus Christ has suffered for us. He allowed us to stay on this earth, enjoying the pleasures (the righteously good and the sinful) so that He could come and suffer. He suffered just coming to earth as He abstained from His own glory. The glory he reigned with in heaven!

Kinda puts a piece of pizza in perspective!

Hang tough this weekend and plan for success in your commitment to God!

Daniel Fast - Day 5

The Daniel Fast

Day 5

Well, I don’t know about you but I am being richly nourished by God. Some things that I have prayed for this past year have been answered in the last 5 days.

One prayer was that my humble husband would find opportunity and step out in confidence in promotion at work. My husband has had 2 opportunities this week to sit down with his immediate boss and also the CEO of the company!

Another prayer that was answered was when I asked God to show me the roots of my struggle with weight and anger. God has done some deep work in me. I am walking in more and more freedom every day!

What about you? Have you seen answers to prayer offered up some time ago? Share with us and encourage all of us on along the way!